For the 24th time BCCI conferred its annual awards for economic achievements

Official guests of the event were the Minister of Labour and Social Policy Biser Petkov, the Deputy Minister of Economy Aleksandar Manolev, who had the opportunity to present the award in category “TOP 100 companies classified on maximum value of profit in BGN on 100 BGN sales revenue in 2016”, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva, the Deputy Mayor of Sofia Doncho Barbalov and the Deputy Minister of Labour Lazar Lazarov, Marieta Zaharieva – Executive Director of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency, and the Executive Director of InvestBulgaria Agency Stamen Yanev. Representatives of the public institutions, diplomats accredited to Bulgaria, members of BCCI, branch organizations, regional chambers of commerce and industry and partners of the Chamber from the country and abroad attended the ceremony.

“We need creative spirit even more now that a small country like Bulgaria is faced with the challenge of presiding over the largest economic community in the world, namely the European Union. It is a pleasure to note that the outlook on our economy is constantly improving,” said the President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov in his welcoming speech.

Deputy Minister Manolev said that in the past year Bulgarian companies have continued to develop sustainably and have entered more and more markets. “This is confirmed by the statistics: Bulgarian exports have increased by 14 per cent, and the common efforts of the business and the government resulted in the improvement of the country’s credit rating by Standard & Poor's”, the Deputy Minister added.

The managers of the winning companies were awarded with bronze statuettes “Hermes” made by the sculptor Stavri Kalinov. Three of the companies were ranked first in the TOP 100 classification which is divided into three categories - maximum value of profit in BGN on 100 BGN sales revenue in 2016, maximum value of profit in BGN on 100 BGN equity in 2016, and alteration of net sales revenue in 2016/2015. In the first category the award went to company JAIMEX LTD., Burgas, in the second category – to GENERAL DISTRIBUTION JSC., Sofia, and in the third category – to AGROFARM LTD., Pazardzhik. Awards were also presented to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea - H.E. Mr. SHIN Boonam and Mrs. Maria GALINDO, Senior Commercial Office at Embassy of the United States of America for their contribution to the development of the economic relations.

The first place in the category “50 Companies classified on the alteration of profit 2016/2015” went to DRUJBA GLASSWORKS S.A., Sofia.

The Minister of Labour and Social Policy Biser Petkov presented LIDL BULGARIA EOOD & CO KD, village of Ravno Pole with the award for maximum value of sales revenue and profit in the Southwestern Region.

The CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY – VRATSA, was awarded first place in the category “Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the system of BCCI” for its contribution to the achievement of BCCI’s goals and objectives.

The BRANCH CHAMBER OF PRODUCERS AND TRADERS OF HOISTS AND CRANES, Sofia – ranked first in the category “Branch Organization” for its contribution to the achievement of BCCI’s goals and objectives.

Bloomberg TV Bulgaria received the award of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry “for objective presentation of the Chamber’s role as the biggest national employers’ organization in the business life of the country, covering of the positions of its members on topical issues and regular broadcasting of news about BCCI’s daily activities”.

Mr. Georgi Georgiev, journalist and host of the rubric “On Your Side” in “Hello, Bulgaria” on NOVA TV received a Plaque and an Honorary Diploma “for objective covering of the positions of BCCI and its members on current business topics, with distinct attention to the problems of Bulgarian entrepreneurs and the role of the Chamber in defending their interests” in the “Journalist” category for 2016.